A blessed and joyous Christmas to all our readers!

posted at 12:01 am on December 25, 2013 by Ed Morrissey

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’ius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

Born among the shepherds is our Savior, who came to Earth to find His lost sheep. Jesus, son of God, lived, died, and rose again to lead his wayward flock home. Happy are those who have been found by the Shepherd who loves them!

For the first time in years, we will not go to the Midnight Mass for Christmas, as we celebrated our family holiday last night. Instead, I have the privilege of doing a reading today at noon Mass, and having an otherwise quiet Christmas for reflection. As I’ve noted in other years, one of the best films for that purpose is The Nativity Story, with this scene being among the most powerful in it:

Merry Christmas!

Note: The front-page Nativity image for this post comes from a fresco in the church at Shepherd’s Field in Bethlehem. I took the picture myself during our pilgrimage last month.

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The lasting and enduring message of Christ is what helps me see past the truly evil people destroying this nation. They too will topple but Christ’s message will remain long after the world has forgotten about a rodent-eared dictator from Kenya.

It’s the “joy” of Christmas, the inherent joy in its meaning and implications to the sacredness of the individual, that bothers the Left so much, short circuits their worldview. Can’t have joy — it mucks up the great project of capture and control of individuals. If we consider our sacredness in the context of a Lord and Savior, where does the State fit it? Think of Leftism as the vast institutionalization of joylessness.

PROSPER, TX, December 24, 2013— Today, Liberty Institute, on behalf of Susan Chapman, a teacher and organizer of a Christmas card project for veterans, is sending a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs demanding the VA immediately rescind its discriminatory policies prohibiting school children from bringing Christmas cards to veterans in VA facilities that say “Merry Christmas” or “God Bless You.” The teacher began the project at the suggestion of a parent. The teacher learned of the ban on Monday morning while attempting to deliver Christmas cards students from Grace Academy of North Texas made for the veterans at the VA hospital in Dallas.

In a non-descript stable, laid in an animal’s feeding trough, in a small town, born to a poor family, presented to shepherds, not kings, (the magi would show up later at a house, not the stable), unbeknownst to all but a few, the Light came into the world to show love, mercy, and grace to all. May all of you be blessed this day!

1. Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.

2. Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.

3. O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.

4. This is He whom Heaven-taught singers
Sang of old with one accord;
Whom the Scriptures of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the Long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.

5. Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.

“The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.” Sounds even better when you sing it. Merry Christmas to all from the mostly lurking indyvet family. You give us hope for the New Year

1. Behold a branch is growing
As of loveliest form and grace,
As prophets sung, foreknowing;
It springs from Jesse’s race
And bears one little Flower
In midst of coldest winter,
At deepest midnight hour.

2. Isaiah hath foretold It
In words of promise sure,
And Mary’ s arms enfold It,
A virgin meek and pure.
Through God’s eternal will
This Child to her is given
At midnight calm and still.

3. The shepherds heard the story,
Proclaimed by angels bright,
How Christ, the Lord of Glory,
Was born on earth this night.
To Bethlehem they sped
And in the manger found him,
As angel heralds said.

4. This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True Man, yet very God;
From sin and death He saves us
And lightens every load.

5. 0 Savior, Child of Mary,
Who felt our human woe;
Savior, King of Glory.
Who dost our weakness know,
Bring us at length, we pray.
To the bright courts of heaven
And to the endless day.

PROSPER, TX, December 24, 2013— Today, Liberty Institute, on behalf of Susan Chapman, a teacher and organizer of a Christmas card project for veterans, is sending a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs demanding the VA immediately rescind its discriminatory policies prohibiting school children from bringing Christmas cards to veterans in VA facilities that say “Merry Christmas” or “God Bless You.” The teacher began the project at the suggestion of a parent. The teacher learned of the ban on Monday morning while attempting to deliver Christmas cards students from Grace Academy of North Texas made for the veterans at the VA hospital in Dallas.

Beautiful! Love that piece as well. I’ve never actually sung the Praetorius, but I’ve always enjoyed it. The Victoria piece posted I posted I actually have sung and it is one of my very favorites — not only for it’s perfection musically, but for the its meaning as well.

I am Jewish, so I don’t celebrate Christmas in the way that Christians do, but I celebrate it nonetheless. I celebrate the joy it brings in a cold world, the hope it represents to most all people of the world, and the prospect of eternal peace it represents.

I cannot understand how people like non-partisan can be so cold and heartless to dismiss such powerful messages. The spirit of Christ still has a lot of work to do.